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Sunday, July 2, 2017

Chapeau to the Lovely Bride

Despite
the odds against “happily ever after,” every year thousands of young couples
all over the world gaze into each other’s eyes and swear eternal love and
devotion; and summer is High Season in the wedding business.

While
the image of the demure, blushing bride has changed considerably since I was a
blushing bride almost 40 years ago, call me old-fashioned and/or hopelessly out
of touch, but I truly believe that when little girls dream about their wedding
day, they still dream of looking like a story book princess. Of course, it’s worth asking what a story
book princess bride looks like these days.

From
what I have observed, the biggest change in bridal attire over the years is in
the headpieces. Headpieces are always a
dead giveaway as to the decade, often down to the year, a wedding took
place.

Redbook 1947

Elaborate
tiaras with veils have been replaced by simple headpieces and veils, then
garlands of flowers with or without veils, and lately I’ve seen just a plain
veil attached to the bride’s hair.

Jennifer Anniston on "Friends"

Of
course, if you want to find hideous headpieces, you need look no further than
the 1980s. In fact, that decade is a
veritable minefield of all things fashion hideous. But tread carefully; you never know what unexploded
fashion faux pas you’re likely to set off.

Recently,
Madame Figaro spotted a new trend in bridal
head pieces that I think is absolutely adorable……on the right bride.

In
Europe, trendy young brides are walking down the aisle in straw hats with a
simple voilette.

The
look is at once vintage and cutting edge.
If you choose to wear one on your wedding day, I advise designing the
whole wedding ensemble around this signature piece. Otherwise, it will look like an afterthought,
which will destroy the whole effect.

And
this one in hemp has a delicate white lace band which could easily be
embellished with a voilette or
flowers.

For
a big ‘ole Texas style wedding back in the US of A, embellishing your straw
cowgirl hat with a veil secured by a big ‘ole bow is always a good idea – the
bigger the better. We are, after all, in
Texas.

And
don’t forget the cowgirl boots! Those boots were made for dancin’ the night away with your favorite cowboy on your
special day.

22 comments:

Dear M-T,As everything weddings, brides and fashion have changed. In the past, I was a viewer of 2 reality shows, one on genealogy and to a lesser extent, "Say Yes to the Dress," until I got bored of seeing the same strapless dress over and over again. Individuation had gone out the window. I think that's why we loved the Duchess of Cambridge dress so much- vintage looking in a style of her own, unlike Princess Di- who looked uncomfortable, eaten alive by all that fabric. Weddings are wonderful and fun events to go to, I just think some rules do apply, for example if it's in a church, the push-up bra is a no-no. If it's a civil ceremony, something lacey in cream or a light pastel is always nice. I think there is nothing that says more about a woman, a summation of who she and her bethrothed are as a couple–their aethetics, their status, her fashion sense, their values, even their taste in music as a wedding. Call me old-fashion and or serious but that's my spin on it- a wedding should be treated with high regard for oneself and as a symbolic gesture as a start of a life together.

I must wholeheartedly agree w/your assessments of the appropriateness of wedding gowns. We are definitely on the same page.

I thought I was the only one who found Princess Di's wedding gown absolutely awful. "Eaten alive by all that fabric" is a wonderful way to put it. Everything was terribly overdone from the poofs on the sleeves to the exaggerated train. At the time, I remember my criticisms of the dress did not go over well w/my friends, who all bought into the fairy tale wedding. Something about that relationship never seemed quite right to me even at the beginning.

I will say that it didn't take her long after the wedding to become a style icon.

I wore a hat on my big day, and it was 1981. . .not sure if that was a "faux pas" or not - LOL! I did love the hat, it was kind of reminiscent of a early 1900's picture hat. . .wish I'd held onto it, the marriage didn't last, but I have a feeling the hat would have! Cheers!

I'm sure you looked lovely in your wedding hat. I love hats on brides. Sorry the marriage didn't work out, but I'll bet the hat was a big hit. Would love to see a picture of you in your hat!! You can crop out the groom - LOL!

I didn't know brides are just attaching vails to their hair! I have seen the hat before, but am not a big fan of it.

I tend to think why not go white dress and veil for a wedding ... the only time it makes sense. For practical reasons, I might stop short of having them drag the floor to get all dirty, but they can still be elegant, pretty and fancy to mark the occasion.

I'll have to see if I have a full-length shot of me somewhere. In the meantime, I do have a head-and-shoulders shot on my Blog under the "Weddings" heading, if you're interested. I'm sure I've already mentioned this numerous times, but Mme Mère made my entire wedding ensemble including hand-beaded Juliet cap.

We were married at home, so I just walked down the stairs, one of the reasons I thought it would have been a bit silly to have a train. The gown was extremely simple. The detailing was in the cap and lace inset at the bodice and on the sleeves.

Dearest Marie-Thérèse,Those are lovely and romantic 'voilettes' and I also like the hats! Not the cowgirl boots... It just doesn't look romantic, nor elegant. I'm always more in favor of a simplistic style.Sending you hugs at the end of a perfect 4th of July with friends.Mariette

Don't you just love those romantic "voilettes?" And, yes, I think the right hat can really make the outfit.

I got such a kick (so to speak) out of those cowgirl boots. Even if I were from Texas I would definitely not wear my boots at my wedding, but there is something really charming and "down home" about it.

May I tell you what a wonder and delight your blog is? And I wish to thank you for visiting Katie's blog as well. I have a human blog too, but just my thoughts and occasional observations on human nature.

I truly loved every word and picture here. I am a would-be fashion maven who never, not ever got past simply loving seeing it, and reading about it. I think I will also recommend your blog to a dear friend in GA. as she is very fashion conscious (she is an Escada fan among other things).

I am a jeans a T -shirt Southern woman who has been in a man's career hence, my mode of dress is extremely unfashionable without pause... but do I love subscribing to the magazines? Reading all about it? YES!

I would love to see your kitties if ever there is an occasion for you to show them.

What a lovely comment. Actually, fashion is wonderful, and I do my best to keep up to date, but style is something very different, very personal and transcends fashion. My guess is that you have your own wonderful style, even though you may not be aware of it.

Sadly, I have only Miss Kiri Kat left as of July 1st when I had to euthanize my beautiful Allegra. They are both pictured on to the right of my Blog. It seems very strange to have only one kitty. I'm used to four or five at a time, but we've lost the rest due to cancer and old age over the last year.

My husband is quite certain Miss Kiri Kat will have a playmate (or two or three) before long. He's probably right.

With havin so much written content do you ever run into any problems of plagorism or copyright violation? My blog has a lot of completely unique content I've either created myself or outsourced but it looks like a lot of it is popping it up all over the web without my authorization. Do you know any solutions to help reduce content from being ripped off? I'd certainly appreciate it.

Loved your piece here on weddings and wedding attire. It was nice to take a walk down the aisle of history. I wore a long gown and short veil 39 years ago when we said our vows in church. I am still friends with our officiant and wore my gown for a photo for our silver anniversary. My husband has it on his desk in a silver frame. Love your writings and I visit your town of Haddonfield quite often. Looking forward to your next piece,it will be lovely I am sure.

What a lovely comment. It sounds as if we were married about the same time. I must say that I have not put on my wedding dress since the day I wore it for the first time. I think that is so touching that you did so on your silver anniversary and that your husband has the picture on his desk.

Also love the fact that you visit my town. Perhaps we could meet for coffee or a cup of tea sometime. Please contact me if you are in the area.

Yes,I would love to meet sometime. I often visit The Picket Fence for tea. Have to mention too that my husband wore a powder blue tux with ruffled shirt at our wedding. So different from the black tux our son just wore for his wedding a few weeks ago. Our new daughter-in-law,who owns five horses,wore her cowboy boots under her gown. How times change!

My dear Readers, I do so love reading your comments and appreciate the time you take to make them. To make it easier to leave your comments, I have disabled that annoying "Word Verification" setting, which Blogger (in its infinite wisdom) enabled without my consent.

If you have a problem posting your comment, just send it to me at frenchtouchimage@gmail.com.

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